Linked Data API

Show Search Form

Search Results

1276225
registered interest false more like this
date remove maximum value filtermore like thismore than 2021-01-13
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading Yemen: Humanitarian Aid more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by the US Secretary of State to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organisation on humanitarian access in Yemen. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 137310 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-01-19more like thismore than 2021-01-19
answer text <p>We are deeply concerned by assessments from the UN and NGOs that the US Administration's decision to designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation is likely to disrupt the humanitarian response and stop vital food supplies getting in to Yemen. We have already engaged with the US to urge them to ensure that the vital humanitarian response, including food supplies, are not disrupted.  Ministers and officials will continue to engage closely with the UN and other donors, including the US, to ensure life-saving humanitarian aid reaches the millions of Yemenis in need.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Braintree more like this
answering member printed James Cleverly more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-01-19T17:51:41.143Zmore like thismore than 2021-01-19T17:51:41.143Z
answering member
4366
label Biography information for James Cleverly more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1260343
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-12-10more like thismore than 2020-12-10
answering body
Ministry of Defence more like this
answering dept id 11 more like this
answering dept short name Defence more like this
answering dept sort name Defence more like this
hansard heading Autonomous Weapons more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of supporting a ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 128271 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-12-15more like thismore than 2020-12-15
answer text <p>The UK considers the extant international legal framework on the development, assurance and deployment of military systems as sufficient.</p><p> </p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency Horsham more like this
answering member printed Jeremy Quin more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-12-15T16:53:56.31Zmore like thismore than 2020-12-15T16:53:56.31Z
answering member
4507
label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1260347
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-12-10more like thismore than 2020-12-10
answering body
Ministry of Defence more like this
answering dept id 11 more like this
answering dept short name Defence more like this
answering dept sort name Defence more like this
hansard heading Autonomous Weapons more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to develop systems that operate without human intervention in the weapon command and control chain. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 128272 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-12-15more like thismore than 2020-12-15
answer text <p>The United Kingdom has no intention of developing systems which operate without any human intervention in the weapon command and control chain.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Horsham more like this
answering member printed Jeremy Quin more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-12-15T16:57:16.077Zmore like thismore than 2020-12-15T16:57:16.077Z
answering member
4507
label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1259753
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-12-09more like thismore than 2020-12-09
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading National Insurance: EEA Nationals more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department may issue National Insurance numbers for (a) EU (b) EEA or (c) Swiss nationals who already have settled or pre-settled status. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 127650 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-12-14more like thismore than 2020-12-14
answer text <p>The department continues to allocate National Insurance Numbers, however, at present this service is currently limited to specific customer groups.</p><p>DWP started testing a partial digital solution, on a small scale, in mid-October, to support the issuing of National Insurance Numbers, which is still ongoing. This solution enables collection of the applicant’s data, but not the online verification of their identity.</p><p>For those customer groups, where a face to face identity check is required, we are developing and testing alternative identity verification solutions. We recently included EU/EAA and Swiss nationals, who have been granted settled or pre-settled status as part of their EU Settlement Scheme, into the test, as their identity will have been verified, through this process, by the Home Office.</p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency Hexham more like this
answering member printed Guy Opperman more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-12-14T13:01:48.597Zmore like thismore than 2020-12-14T13:01:48.597Z
answering member
4142
label Biography information for Guy Opperman more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1255823
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-26more like thismore than 2020-11-26
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading China: Political Prisoners more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the China Tribunal's report entitled Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China Final Judgement and Summary Report, published on 17 June 2020. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 121359 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-12-03more like thismore than 2020-12-03
answer text <p>We have carefully considered the report produced by the &quot;China Tribunal&quot; initiated by the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC). The report contains numerous, disturbing allegations of serious human rights abuses, including sexual violence, torture, forced DNA testing, and false imprisonment. The testimonies also add to the growing body of evidence about the disturbing situation that Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs and other minorities are facing in China. The Government's position remains that, if true, the practice of systematic, state-sponsored organ harvesting would constitute a serious violation of human rights. Officials attended public hearings organised by the International Coalition, as well as its final session in which its preliminary findings were announced. The report is one of a number of sources of information that we are taking into account when considering this issue.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty more like this
answering member printed Nigel Adams more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-12-03T17:28:51.697Zmore like thismore than 2020-12-03T17:28:51.697Z
answering member
4057
label Biography information for Nigel Adams more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1255824
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-26more like thismore than 2020-11-26
answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept id 208 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
answering dept sort name Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office more like this
hansard heading China: Political Prisoners more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the findings of the China Tribunal's report entitled Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China Final Judgement and Summary Report, published on 17 June 2020. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 121360 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-12-03more like thismore than 2020-12-03
answer text <p>We have discussed the allegations of organ harvesting with the World Health Organization, international partners, and international human rights NGOs. The Minister for Human Rights met with the Chair of the Tribunal in November 2019. The Minister has also written to the WHO in Geneva to encourage them to give careful consideration to the findings of the China Tribunal report. We regularly raise our human rights concerns with China, including on the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities. The Foreign Secretary has personally raised our serious concerns around human rights with his Chinese counterpart on a number of occasions.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty more like this
answering member printed Nigel Adams more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-12-03T17:35:52.83Zmore like thismore than 2020-12-03T17:35:52.83Z
answering member
4057
label Biography information for Nigel Adams more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1253835
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-19more like thismore than 2020-11-19
answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept id 13 more like this
answering dept short name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
answering dept sort name Environment, Food and Rural Affairs more like this
hansard heading Alcohols more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether licences from the Rural Payments Agency will be required for ethyl alcohol imported from the EU after the transition period. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 118103 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-11-27more like thismore than 2020-11-27
answer text <p>Yes, under retained EU law, amended by the Import and Export Licences (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, any import of ethyl alcohol into the UK after the end of the transition period will need to be accompanied by an import licence issued by the Rural Payments Agency.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Banbury more like this
answering member printed Victoria Prentis more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-11-27T14:16:50.023Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-27T14:16:50.023Z
answering member
4401
label Biography information for Victoria Prentis more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1253432
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-18more like thismore than 2020-11-18
answering body
Treasury more like this
answering dept id 14 more like this
answering dept short name Treasury more like this
answering dept sort name Treasury more like this
hansard heading Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which debt collection agencies are being used to send final opportunity letters on his Department's behalf. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 117367 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-11-26more like thismore than 2020-11-26
answer text <p>As part of their overall collections strategy, debt collection agencies (DCAs) provide HMRC with additional capacity. The department keeps under review the cost effectiveness and value for money that using DCAs provides to the Exchequer and UK citizens. There are no current plans to move away from using agencies to send final opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><p>The table below sets out the total expenditure on DCAs by HMRC and the amount spent instructing them to issue final opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total spend</p></td><td><p>Final opportunity letter spend</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£ 32,099,756.77</p></td><td><p>£1,714,901.62</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>£ 26,021,351.78</p></td><td><p>£1,302,490.63</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>£ 26,163,245.08</p></td><td><p>£1,242,984.66</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Final opportunity letters are sent on HMRC’s behalf by some of the debt collection agencies that the department works with. These are:</p><ul><li>Advantis Credit Ltd</li><li>Bluestone Credit Management</li><li>1st Locate (UK) Ltd</li><li>Past Due Credit Solutions</li></ul><p> </p><p>The full list of debt collection agencies that HMRC work with can be found on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire more like this
answering member printed Jesse Norman more like this
grouped question UIN
117368 more like this
117369 more like this
117370 more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-11-26T11:20:41.057Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-26T11:20:41.057Z
answering member
3991
label Biography information for Jesse Norman more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1253433
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-18more like thismore than 2020-11-18
answering body
Treasury more like this
answering dept id 14 more like this
answering dept short name Treasury more like this
answering dept sort name Treasury more like this
hansard heading Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has spent on debt collection agencies in each of the last three years. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 117368 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-11-26more like thismore than 2020-11-26
answer text <p>As part of their overall collections strategy, debt collection agencies (DCAs) provide HMRC with additional capacity. The department keeps under review the cost effectiveness and value for money that using DCAs provides to the Exchequer and UK citizens. There are no current plans to move away from using agencies to send final opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><p>The table below sets out the total expenditure on DCAs by HMRC and the amount spent instructing them to issue final opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total spend</p></td><td><p>Final opportunity letter spend</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£ 32,099,756.77</p></td><td><p>£1,714,901.62</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>£ 26,021,351.78</p></td><td><p>£1,302,490.63</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>£ 26,163,245.08</p></td><td><p>£1,242,984.66</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Final opportunity letters are sent on HMRC’s behalf by some of the debt collection agencies that the department works with. These are:</p><ul><li>Advantis Credit Ltd</li><li>Bluestone Credit Management</li><li>1st Locate (UK) Ltd</li><li>Past Due Credit Solutions</li></ul><p> </p><p>The full list of debt collection agencies that HMRC work with can be found on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire more like this
answering member printed Jesse Norman more like this
grouped question UIN
117367 more like this
117369 more like this
117370 more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-11-26T11:20:41.103Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-26T11:20:41.103Z
answering member
3991
label Biography information for Jesse Norman more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this
1253434
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-18more like thismore than 2020-11-18
answering body
Treasury more like this
answering dept id 14 more like this
answering dept short name Treasury more like this
answering dept sort name Treasury more like this
hansard heading Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to review his Department's use of debt collection agencies to send final opportunity letters. more like this
tabling member constituency Stirling remove filter
tabling member printed
Alyn Smith more like this
uin 117369 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-11-26more like thismore than 2020-11-26
answer text <p>As part of their overall collections strategy, debt collection agencies (DCAs) provide HMRC with additional capacity. The department keeps under review the cost effectiveness and value for money that using DCAs provides to the Exchequer and UK citizens. There are no current plans to move away from using agencies to send final opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><p>The table below sets out the total expenditure on DCAs by HMRC and the amount spent instructing them to issue final opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total spend</p></td><td><p>Final opportunity letter spend</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£ 32,099,756.77</p></td><td><p>£1,714,901.62</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>£ 26,021,351.78</p></td><td><p>£1,302,490.63</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>£ 26,163,245.08</p></td><td><p>£1,242,984.66</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Final opportunity letters are sent on HMRC’s behalf by some of the debt collection agencies that the department works with. These are:</p><ul><li>Advantis Credit Ltd</li><li>Bluestone Credit Management</li><li>1st Locate (UK) Ltd</li><li>Past Due Credit Solutions</li></ul><p> </p><p>The full list of debt collection agencies that HMRC work with can be found on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire more like this
answering member printed Jesse Norman more like this
grouped question UIN
117367 more like this
117368 more like this
117370 more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-11-26T11:20:41.14Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-26T11:20:41.14Z
answering member
3991
label Biography information for Jesse Norman more like this
tabling member
4738
label Biography information for Alyn Smith more like this